The Grotesque Masks in Turin

Turin’s grotesque masks are among the so called “most interesting kind of work “ in the panorama of Italian decorative art. The Turinese baroc, famous worldwide, brings out and uses the grotesque style all over: architecture, silver and chinaware, tapestry, handicraft of art etc.It represents strength, elegance and deconsecration.

Serial grotesque in San Carlo Sq.

It is used in the heraldic coat-of-arms of noble families, for the decoration of precion arms, as symbol of cities and towns. The mask originated as an image of noble distinction and the person who exhibited it intended to represent a man of great soul and courage. The baroc grotesque mask drew inspiration from zoomorphous and anthropomorphous figures, and from fantasy hybrid. Being one different from the other, the element of the “serial grotesque” could sometimes happen.

Indios in Carignano Palace

But this latter too, being very plastic in its feature, could result different, this depending on how the light illuminated or shaded the different parts of its shape. Famous serial grotesque masks in Turin are to be found on the windows of Carignano Palace. They reproduce the Chiefs of the Indios Irochesi tribes (Canada): this is how the architect Guarino Guarini decided to represent them during the project of that Palace.

Mask in Mastio della Cittadella

Another important mask in Turin is that of the Mastio della Cittadella: placed as a key-vault of the main door, its wry face is addressed to the potential invaders who tried to enter the bulding through that side. It is, in fact, a false entrance.

Serial grotesque masks are also to be found along the central and elegant Rome Street and in San Carlo’s Sq. : those masks give the impression of mocking the passers–by who, as it is customary, walk the pavement up and down with the only intent to pass the time and, quite often for some of them, to be looked at or to be admired.